As I hiked along a very isolated, deep woods trail with my friend Joan, earlier this Autumn, I couldn't help but be drawn to the balsam branches bending over the path. We were in what's called The Hoffman Notch Wilderness Area of the north-central Adirondacks. Some hikers call this the lower High Peaks region. We were the only humans that day on this beautiful trail leading to a very remote pond.
The smell of Christmas was all around us.
I stopped to take the above photo and just inhale this heavenly scent God created for us and couldn't help but think that just like this tree is always green (all year round) so too is God's love for us...everlasting. I whispered a "thank You, God for your loyal love".
As I think back to when the girls were little, I tried to explain to them that the reason we have a Christmas tree...aka a balsam tree....is that it represents God's enduring love for us and the Cross at Calvary is sometimes known as "a tree":
That cross was made of wood and wood comes from a tree. And the "tree of life" mentioned in the Garden of Eden story in the Old Testament is a symbol of God's life given as a gift to humanity. And what was that gift?? JESUS!
As we enter the week before Christmas, I think about all the people I know who are dealing with some hard life issues. Friends who have to make decisions about aging parents; people who have loved ones in hospitals or nursing homes; people dealing with financial struggles or relationship issues; lonely people; people missing loved ones who have passed away or moved away. Life brings changes.....but one thing that doesn't change is God's love, strength and mercy.
It's constant. It's ever present. He is ever present.
2 comments:
I love this post, Faith. You are right - God's love, strength, and mercy never change. Christmas is different for me this year after losing my dear mom earlier this year. It won't be the same, but I will make the best of it, and it will be ok. Thank you for sharing this today!❤️
Beautifully said, my friend. smiles
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